AY 2025-2026 RESIDENCE LIFE ANNUAL REPORT Residence Life’s mission is to build safe and inclusive residential communities Residence Life continued to balance operational excellence, student-centered innovation, and community building by delivering a residential experience that supported both institutional priorities and student success. Through maintaining a 99% occupancy rate and expanding early arrival and late departure housing options, the department maximized housing resources while providing greater flexibility for students and generating additional revenue for the College. Residence Life enhanced Housing Selection by expanding to four days, introducing a new Special Interest Housing selection process, and developing a customized RA application process, all designed to improve accessibility, efficiency, and the overall student experience. Beyond operations, Residence Life remained focused on fostering connection, leadership, and belonging within the residential communities. New initiatives, including the inaugural Candy Gram program, created meaningful opportunities for peer engagement and campus-wide connection. Investments in student leadership recruitment and development strengthened the Resident Assistant experience, while intentional residential programming and communitybuilding efforts helped students feel supported, connected, and empowered. Together, these accomplishments reflect Residence Life's commitment to creating vibrant residential communities that enhance the learner experience, support institutional sustainability, and contribute to a strong sense of belonging across Babson’s campus.
The Impact of Living on Campus
86%
of students agreed that living on-campus has positively impacted their overall college experience
Learning also happens where students live Residence Life advanced learner success by delivering 399 programs focused on academic success, wellness, diversity and inclusive excellence, life skills, and community engagement. From Matcha Making and Gingerbread House Competitions to Midterm Stress Reliever Goodie Bags, these initiatives created meaningful opportunities for students to connect and learn. Resident Assistants also conducted 3,527 one-on-one conversations with residents, fostering supportive relationships, connecting students to resources, and strengthening students' sense of belonging within the Babson community. As one resident shared, "The one on one conversation was nice, (my RA) was kind and encouraged me to follow my passions on campus." This personalized approach reflects Residence Life's commitment to creating a supportive residential experience that empowers students to succeed personally and socially within a residential setting.
Invested in community spaces, staff development, and learner-centered residential environments Residence Life continued to invest in people and campus by enhancing residential environments, strengthening student leader development, and prioritizing professional growth. In partnership with Facilities after SGA and student feedback, staff toured Forest Annex to help inform future facility improvements that will enhance the residential experience and provides additional lounge and study space for residents. Residence Life also celebrated student leadership through its first annual RA End-of-Year Awards Banquet, recognizing the contributions and impact of Resident Assistants. To better support leadership development, RA training was expanded to include differentiated learning tracks based on years of experience and functional areas, creating more tailored and meaningful professional development opportunities. Additionally, Residence Life invested in staff growth by supporting attendance at professional conferences and training opportunities, including NEACUHO and StarRez conferences, bringing back innovative practices and industry knowledge to strengthen services and support for Babson students.
From Our Residents...
“(My RA) has been really helpful not only in my dorm life but also to guide me for classes and resources around campus.’’
“(My RA) hosted a lot of really great RA events where we were able to bond with other residents.’’
“(My RA) was a great connection and a positive attitude! He made conversations without it feeling forced.’’
“Thank you for making Babson feel more like home’’
“I’m glad I had one on one check in with my RA and the dorm events were always well planned and fun to be at as we all get to know each other better.’’
Leveraged technology and operational improvements
Expanded Housing Capacity and Supported Enrollment Growth
Residence Life continued to leverage technology and operational improvements to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency, and support scalable operations. The department streamlined the housing cancellation requests and moved from email to the Housing Portal which created a more seamless and user-friendly experience for students while improving operational oversight. Through expanded use of StarRez digital modules, Residence Life strengthened accountability, data management, and workflow efficiency across several functional areas, including key tracking, Health and Safety Inspections, roommate agreements, and Resident Assistant programming assessment and tracking. These enhancements, which will be rolled out in August 2026, will reduce reliance on manual processes, improve data accessibility, and position the department to deliver more effective and responsive services while supporting the evolving needs of a growing residential community.
Residence Life continued to support Babson's growth and evolving student needs by strategically expanding campus housing capacity. This year, we added 63 new beds in Woodside, increasing residential availability and helping meet strong student housing demand. Looking ahead, Residence Life is planning to add an additional 20 beds for the upcoming academic year, including accommodations specifically designated for graduate students, further supporting enrollment growth and enhancing the graduate student experience. These efforts reflect a commitment to maximizing housing resources, increasing flexibility, and ensuring that residential capacity aligns with the College's strategic priorities and longterm growth objectives.